Social Europe

Your first EURES job

2
0
1
4
-
2
0
1
5
J
o
b
s
e
e
k
e
r
s


&

E
m
p
l
o
y
e
r
s
'


G
u
i
d
e
eures.europa.eu
ec.europa.eu/social/yourrsteuresjob
Your first EURES job
Making it easier
to move and work
to recruit young people
in Europe
201415 Guide
European Commission
Directorate-General for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion
Unit C3
Manuscript completed in January 2014
Neither the European Commission nor any person acting on behalf of the Commission may be held responsible for the use
that may be made of the information contained in this publication.
Cover photo: iStockphoto, Getty Images
For any use or reproduction of photos which are not under European Union copyright, permission must be sought directly from
the copyright holder(s).
Europe Direct is a service to help you find answers
to your questions about the European Union.
Freephone number (*):
00 800 6 7 8 9 10 11
(*) The information given is free, as are most calls (though some operators,
phone boxes or hotels may charge you).
More information on the European Union is available on the Internet (http://europa.eu).
Luxembourg: Publications Office of the European Union, 2014
ISBN 978-92-79-35017-7
doi:10.2767/29983
European Union, 2014
Reproduction is authorised provided the source is acknowledged.
Contents
Your first EURES job: What is it? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Delivering solutions to youth unemployment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Overall YfEj results (2012Q3 2013Q4). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Implementing YfEj: Employment services and contact details . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Who can benefit and how to participate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Young people . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Employers. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Which work placements are eligible? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10
Dealing with cross-border jobs, traineeships and apprenticeships . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11
Posted workers versus mobile workers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11
Financial support for young people . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Who can benefit? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12
What costs are covered? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12
Financial support for SMEs (Employers) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Overview of funding rules . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Other support measures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18
Preparatory training (language training or other). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18
Mentoring support for recruited trainees and apprentices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19
Paying participants . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Glossary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
Find out more and follow us . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
YOUR FIRST EURES JOB 201415 GUIDE
5
Your first EURES job: What is it?
Your first EURES job (YfEj) is a pilot and small-scale
job mobility scheme launched by the European
Commission in 2011 to help young Europeans in the
28 Member States find a job or work-based training
opportunity in another Member State.
It is one of the key actions of the Europe 2020 flag-
ship initiative Youth on the Move and of the Youth
Opportunities Initiative. The scheme is part of the
Commissions efforts to tackle youth unemployment
as set out in the 2012 Youth Employment Package.
YfEj targets young EU nationals within the
1830 age bracket and employers, in particular
small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Some
EUR 12 million was earmarked over three budget
years (201113) to help 5 000 young people find a
job, traineeship or apprenticeship in a Member State
other than their country of residence. In the 201420
budget period, YfEj and other targeted mobility
schemes will be funded under the EU Programme
for Employment and Social Innovation (EaSI).
Each assignment lasts for at least six months and is
based on a formal labour contract signed between
the young person and the employer. The recruited
candidate is entitled to a salary, awareness of his or
her rights and adequate social protection, irrespective
of his or her status. Although the assignment could
be the first in another Member State, the scheme is
not limited to first-time jobseekers.
YfEj is run through annual calls for proposals. Selected
projects must apply the schemes rules but may use
different methodologies. The aim is to experiment
and innovate and to test the effectiveness of a tailor-
made job placement service combined with finan-
cial support before implementing the scheme on a
wider scale.
YfEj geographical coverage
Belgium, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic,
Denmark, Germany, Estonia, Ireland,
Greece, Spain, France, Croatia, Italy,
Cyprus, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg,
Hungary, Malta, the Netherlands, Austria,
Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia,
Slovakia, Finland, Sweden and the
United Kingdom.
I chose to come to Germany because here profesionals like me are highly appreciated.
Although this is my first job related to my studies, they are happy to train people and keep
them after training.
Rosa Corchero, Spanish computer technician working in Germany.
YOUR FIRST EURES JOB
6
Delivering solutions
to youth unemployment
YfEj aims to give young people valuable job and train-
ing experience at a time when youth unemployment is
more than twice the rate for the population at large.
In September 2013, the youth unemployment rate
stood at 23.5 % in the EU-28, compared to 11 % for
the population at large. Nearly six million young per-
sons (under age 25) were out of work across the
EU-28, of which 3.5 million were in the euro area.
Although YfEj cannot solve all labour market imbal-
ances, it can provide solutions by making it easier
for young people to gain work experience in another
Member State. It will also help the EU reach its tar-
get of having 75 % of 20 to 64-year-olds in the EU
employed by 2020, as outlined in the Europe 2020
growth strategy.
YfEj activities were initiated in 2012 with four initial
projects that had a combined goal of 2 000 place-
ments. Five new projects that joined in the second
quarter of 2013 sought to place about 1 500 young
people. These projects jointly aimed to achieve
3 500 placements. By the end of 2013, they had
achieved 55 % of their combined target and 39 %
of the YfEjs overall target. A new wave of pro-
jects has been initiated in 2014 to ensure another
1 500 work placements.
The majority of placements (2013Q4 data) was for
young people who were unemployed at the time of
hiring. Around 38% of the jobs filled were high skilled
occupations and the non-manual occupations made
up nearly 39% of the vacancies filled. As in previous
quarters, service workers and shop and market sales
workers proved the most popular occupational group.
Low-skilled manual jobs accounted for a smaller per-
centage of all vacancies.
Most young job-finders were younger than 27. Young
people who had finished at least secondary or voca-
tional education made up 60 % of YfEj job-finders.
Overall YfEj results (2012Q3 2013Q4)
Target: 5 000
Placements
in another
Member State
1 950
Financially supported
job interviews
in another Member State
1 022
Supported participants
in preparatory trainings
1 423
Supported
SME integration
trainings
358
= 200
YOUR FIRST EURES JOB 201415 GUIDE
7
Implementing YfEj: Employment
services and contact details
YfEj is implemented by employment services and
other labour market organisations with experience
in work placement activities established in any
Member State. These may be public, private or third
sector employment services which were selected
and received grants from the European Commission
(referred to as YfEj employment services).
The European Commission has overall political and
financial responsibility for the management of YfEj.
It is also responsible for promoting the scheme, for
providing guidance and support to the labour market
organisations selected to participate and for ensuring
the overall monitoring and evaluation of activities.
The YfEj employment services are responsible for
the implementation of the activities set out in this
guide. Driven by result-oriented objectives, they pro-
vide information, recruitment, matching, place-
ment and post-placement support to both young
people and employers.
Labour market needs and conditions will, to a
large extent, determine job placement oppor-
tunities and workforce flows. These can vary
over time. YfEj cannot commit to providing every
interested young jobseeker with a job in another
Member State or every employer with the mobile
workforce he or she is looking for across borders.
YfEjs objective is to help fill job or work-based
training vacancies and thus contribute to enhancing
the balance between supply and demand in the EU
labour markets.
More information about the YfEj employment services, their support activities and contact
details can be found at:
http://ec.europa.eu/social/yourfirsteuresjob
http://eures.europa.eu
The scheme was very helpful for us as it both supported the employees in their travel and
relocation costs, and provided us as employers with financial backing to support our integration
programme for employees.
Winfried Schnauer, CEO of Vivat, a residential housing company for the elderly in Germany.
YOUR FIRST EURES JOB
8
Who can benefit
and how to participate
YfEj targets young jobseekers and companies
(mainly SMEs) seeking to fill vacancies. The fol-
lowing pages explain rules for participating, along
with requirements applicable to jobs as well as to
traineeships and apprenticeships (both new to
YfEj as of 2014).
Young people
YfEj is open to 18- to 30-year-olds who are
EU nationals and legally resident in any Member State
and seeking a job, traineeship or apprenticeship in an
EU country other than their country of residence.
This age bracket was chosen because although the
transition from study to work is usually between age
1824, many young people up to their 30s still face
hurdles finding work.
All applicants must be 1830 years old at the time
they submit an application for the job or work-based
training. Any candidate may qualify for a job, trainee-
ship or apprenticeship offer and for financial support,
as long as the candidate has applied before turning 31.
Jobseekers prole
YfEj is not exclusively tailored for first-time jobseek-
ers. All young people who meet the above criteria are
eligible, regardless of education level, work experience
or economic or social background as long as they
comply with the labour laws of the recruiting country
and with the vacancy specifications. Young people with
both high and low qualifications can benefit.
Applicant checklist
Legal resident of a Member State
Age 18 to 30 at the time of submitting an
application
Seeking a job in another Member State
Jobseeker or job changer but not necessarily
first-time mobile candidate
Can have high or low qualifications at the
time of application
For information on transitional
measures in place for workers from
Croatia, please go to: http://ec.europa.eu/
social/main.jsp?catId=466&langId=en
The scheme has been incredibly useful and I would happily recommend it to anyone. It was hard
to move because I still have my family and girlfriend in Greece, but I feel like I have started my
new life under the best circumstances possible.
Alexandros Giannoulakis, Greek nurse in Finland.
YOUR FIRST EURES JOB 201415 GUIDE
9
Employers
All legally established businesses, particularly SMEs,
or other organisations in the Member States can par-
ticipate in the YfEj scheme. However, only SMEs may
receive financial support.
The scheme is also open to enterprises headquartered
in the EEA countries Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein
or in third countries which are legally established in
any Member State before participating.
All organisations must comply with labour and
fiscal laws applicable in the countries where they
are established.
Placement with European institutions and bodies
and other international policy, economic, social and
scientific organisations (such as the UN, the OECD,
the Council of Europe or similar) as well as with
supra-national regulatory bodies and their agencies
is ineligible.
Focus on SMEs
For the purposes of YfEj, an SME is defined as a busi-
ness employing up to 250 people. These companies
are the main target business group because of their
contribution to European economic growth, particu-
larly in creating new jobs. SMEs accounted for 85 %
of net new jobs created in the EU between 2002 and
2010. During this period, net employment rose by an
average of 1.1 million new jobs each year.
Even in times of economic turmoil, SMEs can still
make a significant contribution to job creation and
growth. It is a known fact that businesses and SMEs
operating in more innovative economies have weath-
ered the crisis better.
However, SMEs do not often recruit staff or accept
trainees or apprentices from another Member State.
Small companies often cannot afford the cost of
relocation and/or training and mentoring services to
ease the transition of mobile workers. Yet, for some
occupations, a diverse foreign workforce is exactly
what is needed to boost SMEs innovation capacity
and competitiveness.
The financial support provided by YfEj is mainly
meant to help SMEs recruit and better integrate tal-
ented young people from other Member States.
Other employers
Large companies or other organisations that
qualify but fall outside the definition of SMEs,
along with employment services, may also partici-
pate in YfEj, but without any YfEj funding support.
For the most part, these employers tend to have
well-established staff integration and mentoring
services already.
YOUR FIRST EURES JOB
10
Which work placements
are eligible?
To be eligible for support under YfEj, work placements
are meant to be occupied by any person who under-
takes genuine and effective work for which he or she
is paid under the direction of someone else. This is
defined in the Commissions 2010 Communication
on Reaffirming the free movement of workers and
reinforced in European case law.
A job is a position in any organisation held by an employee;
traineeships and apprenticeships (work-based trainings)
consist of a limited period of hands-on training spent
at a workplace. (All terms are further explained in the
glossary of key terms and abbreviations, pages 2122).
General rules
Under the YfEj scheme, in principle any job, traineeship
or apprenticeship compliant with national law may be
eligible for support, irrespective of the economic sector
or national regulatory framework. However, trainee-
ships and apprenticeships forming part of mandatory
professional certification requirements (as is the nor-
mal practice with regulated professions such as law,
medicine and architecture) are not covered by YfEj.
In all circumstances, the eligible work placements
must comply with the following standards:
be located in a Member State other than the country of
residence of the young jobseeker, trainee or apprentice;
be subject to open and transparent information on
the rights and obligations of the trainee/apprentice,
the employer, other labour market stakeholders,
and, where applicable, the educational/vocational
training organisation;
comply with national labour and social
protection laws and ensure adequate
protection and benefits (such as social
security, health and accident insurance)
for mobile workers and mobile trainees
or apprentices;
ensure pay (a salary) and a written contract;
specify in the labour contract the professional
(or vocational training) objectives, duration
of the contractual relationship, work hours,
rights and obligations, remuneration and social
security provisions;
last for at least six months;
be a full- or part-time work placement (no less
than 50 % full-time equivalent, as per national law
or collective bargaining provisions).
For traineeships and apprenticeships, the follow-
ing additional requirements should apply:
at the time of taking up a placement, candidates
should be unemployed in other words, not
contractually bound to any employer, either in
their country of residence or elsewhere;
participant companies or other host organisations
should be willing to recruit trainees or apprentices
from other Member States and comply with
both national and YfEj standards that apply to
traineeships or apprenticeships.
YOUR FIRST EURES JOB 201415 GUIDE
11
All employers that take on an apprentice or trainee
through YfEj are required to:
offer skill-enhancing on-the-job learning
and training;
provide proper vocational tutoring/mentoring in
the host company or organisation throughout the
work-based training;
as much as possible, provide settlement
and logistical support such as help finding
accommodation (e.g. at a youth hostel, host
family or apartment), facilitate attendance of
school classes in the case of a dual training
system and, if applicable, ensure complementary
financial support;
issue a certificate or written declaration formally
recognising the knowledge, skills and competences
acquired during the traineeship or internship,
in accordance with company/organisation or
national practice.
Employer checklist
Largesized organisation or SME located
in the EU-28
Can also be from an EEA country and legally
established in a Member State
Have one or more job/work-based training
vacancies to fill
Willing to recruit from another Member State
Offer a work placement in accordance with
national labour and social protection laws
Minimum 6-month contract duration,
full-time or part-time work placement
(= /+ 50 % FTE)
For trainees or apprentices: able to provide
on-the-job skill learning and training, help
with housing and other logistical support,
and issue a certificate/declaration of
acquired skills and competences at the end
of the assignment.
Dealing with cross-border
jobs, traineeships
and apprenticeships
YfEj provides financial support for young transna-
tional as well as cross-border mobile workers to move
abroad, on condition that they establish residence
(on a permanent or temporary basis) in the country
where the assignment is based.
However, for actual cross-border jobs, traineeships
and apprenticeships with no relocation or need for
dual residence, the candidate will not receive flat-
rate funding to cover relocation expenses (for more
on financial support please see page 14).
This applies for example to candidates who intend or
may agree to work in a neighbouring Member State
without changing the country of residence, i.e. involv-
ing a daily commute. These candidates can neverthe-
less still benefit from job matching and job placement
support services, including financial support for other
expenditure categories.
Posted workers versus
mobile workers
YfEj cannot be applied to labour contracts that fall
under the EU legislation on the posting of workers
(Directive 96/71/EC).
Posted workers and mobile workers are two differ-
ent categories: A posted worker is employed in a
Member State but sent by his or her employer on a
temporary basis to work in another Member State.
By comparison, a mobile worker is someone who
chooses to go to another Member State to seek work
or vocational training, who accepts a work placement
in another Member State and who is employed there.
YOUR FIRST EURES JOB
12
Financial support for young people
YfEj financial support covers part of the costs borne
by participants young people and employers
related to transnational or cross-border work place-
ment activities.
As with other mobility actions co-financed by the
European Commission, flat-rate financing is one
of the funding mechanisms applied in YfEj. This
method makes it simple to calculate the grant
amount by applying pre-established rates for
certain expenditure categories. It is also a trans-
parent system that ensures equal treatment of
target groups.
Other categories of support will require the submis-
sion of a budget estimate of eligible costs, or an
invoice or receipt of incurred costs before any reim-
bursement can be paid.
Who can benet?
Any young candidate fulfilling the participation crite-
ria specified on page 8 and who has registered with
a YfEj employment service to apply for a job, train-
eeship or apprenticeship in another Member State
can qualify for recruitment and financial support as
long as:
the candidate is profiled or pre-selected for a
vacancy in another EU country through the YfEj
employment service;
conditions for claiming funding as specified in
this guide are met and approved by the YfEj
employment service.
Candidates temporarily living and looking for
a job, traineeship or apprenticeship in another
Member State may also benefit from YfEj support.
For this purpose, they should register with a YfEj
employment service and be short-listed for one
or more job vacancies, if any, in the relevant host
Member State. These candidates are eligible for all
categories of financial support, except a reloca-
tion allowance.
Candidates who have found work placements in other
Member States through other organisations or con-
tacts are not eligible for financial support.
What costs are covered?
The financial support kicks in from the outset, before
the participant starts work. As above, it can take the
form of a flat-rate allowance or reimbursement of
actual costs.
The flat-rate allowances cover part of the travel,
insurance and subsistence costs incurred during the
interview trip and expenses related to moving before
receiving the first salary payment. Financial support
is due regardless of the size of the company/organi-
sation employer.
Young candidates can also apply for partial reim-
bursement of the costs of:
language courses
recognition of qualifications
mobility in case of special needs.
Interview trip abroad
The term interview refers to a one-on-one dialogue
with one or more employers. It may also involve
selection competitions. The interview trip abroad is
not mandatory, but is just one of several selec-
tion procedures.
The interview trip is also not a right, since invita-
tions are only issued following the agreement between
the employers participating in YfEj and the relevant
employment services. Preferably, they will extend an
invitation only in cases where there is a great probabil-
ity of the candidate being hired, and take into account
the length of the trip and the costs to be borne by the
jobseeker. The applicant is free to accept or refuse the
interview trip or to suggest another option, such as an
interview by telephone or teleconference.
YOUR FIRST EURES JOB 201415 GUIDE
13
An allowance for an interview trip to another EU coun-
try may only be authorised after the YfEj employ-
ment service has examined the actual recruitment
needs with the employer(s) and the potential cost-
benefit of the action.
If the interview trip(s) abroad get(s) the green light,
the candidate is entitled to a fixed amount (the same
for all EU Member States), based on the distance
travelled from the place of residence to the interview
location. This allowance represents a contribution to
both travel and subsistence costs, including travel
insurance and accommodation (see table below).
Interview trip in the candidates
home country
Employers often travel to a candidates country of
residence to conduct interviews at job fairs or trans-
national recruitment fairs. This can be an efficient
way to boost the number of work placements while
reducing candidates travel costs.
Despite the savings offered by this option, candidates
may still have to bear considerable expenditure, espe-
cially if the interview is in a city far from the place of
residence. In these circumstances, the rules for interview
trips to other Member States shall apply inter alia to
interview trips made within the home country. The same
assessment criteria as for interview trips abroad apply.
This option is in particular justified in the case
of candidates travelling within large countries or
from national offshore territories (such as the
Canary Islands, Baleares Islands or the Azores) to
the mainland.
Calculating the geographic distance
to the interview
The geographic distance determining the amount
granted to support the interview trip will be meas-
ured from the place of residence (or closest main city)
to the place where the interview occurs (or closest
main city).
If the trip includes different locations within a
Member State or in several Member States, the
authorised allowance should be based on the distance
between the jobseekers place of residence and the
furthest interview destination.
Other interview possibilities
Whenever possible, interviews should be conducted
by phone or videoconference. The YfEj employ-
ment services are required to facilitate access
to videoconference services for both young can-
didates and/or employers who do not have the
equipment needed.
YOUNG PEOPLES ALLOWANCE FOR INTERVIEW(S)
Country
Amount (EUR)
Rule of allocation
Reporting
obligations
Distance
< or =
500 km
Distance
> 500 km
Any Member State 200 300
Automatic, if necessary
and after approval by the
YfEj employment service
but before the job interview
takes place
Declaration signed by
the mobile candidate
YOUR FIRST EURES JOB
14
Relocation allowance
to another Member State
If the young candidate is recruited for a work
placement in another Member State, he or she is
entitled to receive an allowance (flat rate) before
leaving the country of residence, but only after
getting confirmation in writing from the employer
about the offer and labour contract details. The
allowance helps defray some of the travel and
subsistence costs, including travel insurance and
accommodation incurred in connection with set-
tling in the country of destination (not applicable to
cross-border commuters).
YOUNG PEOPLES ALLOWANCE TO MOVE TO ANOTHER MEMBER STATE (WORK PLACEMENT) (*)
Country of
destination
Amount (EUR) Rule of allocation Reporting obligations
Austria 970
Automatic, after
approval by the YfEj
employment service but
before moving to the
country of destination
Declaration signed
by the recruited
candidate
Belgium 920
Bulgaria 600
Croatia 640
Cyprus 790
Czech Republic 710
Denmark 1 200
Estonia 710
Finland 1 030
France 990
Germany 890
Greece 860
Hungary 620
Ireland 960
Italy 940
Latvia 640
Lithuania 640
Luxembourg 920
Malta 780
Netherlands 900
Poland 620
Portugal 780
Romania 600
Slovakia 700
Slovenia 780
Spain 840
Sweden 1 030
United Kingdom 1 000
(*) Travel, insurance and subsistence costs included for settlement in the country of destination
YOUR FIRST EURES JOB 201415 GUIDE
15
Other nancial support
Young candidates are also entitled to receive addi-
tional financial support related to training or relo-
cation expenses. This support is provided on the
basis of reimbursement of actual costs and must
in all circumstances be duly justified before actual
expenditure is incurred.
Whenever young people need to attend a language
course, the relevant costs may be directly covered by
either the candidate or the YfEj beneficiary.
If a candidate wishes to relocate to another
Member State for a job, traineeship or apprentice-
ship with a new employer in his or her professional
field, the candidate may be required to have his or
her academic and/or professional qualifica-
tions recognised.
Young candidates with disabilities and/or those
from disadvantaged social or economic back-
grounds or facing temporary economic difficulties
may also qualify for supplementary reloca-
tion allowance.
Further information on the conditions to qualify for
support may be provided by any YfEj employment
service. The table below gives an overview of the
financial support available for language training, rec-
ognition of qualifications and supplementary reloca-
tion allowance.
OTHER SUPPORT MEASURES FOR YOUNG PEOPLE
Measure Amount (EUR) Rule of allocation Reporting obligations
Language training
Actual declared costs
up to EUR 1 200
Conditional:
submission of request
with training description
and estimate
Full justification of the
costs incurred, copy
of invoice/receipt and
training certificate
Recognition
of qualifications
Actual declared costs
up to EUR 1 000
Conditional:
submission of
request with copy of
national academic or
professional certificate
Full justification of costs
incurred, copy of invoice/
receipt
Supplementary
relocation allowance
for young people
with special needs
Up to EUR 500
Conditional:
submission of
request with copy of
medical certificate,
income declaration
or equivalent and,
if possible, estimate
of provisional costs
Declaration signed
by the candidate
(if ex-ante justification
and estimate of costs)
or
full justification of costs
incurred, copy of invoice/
receipt in the case
of reimbursement of
actual declared costs
YOUR FIRST EURES JOB
16
Financial support for SMEs (Employers)
Employers (SMEs) who take on mobile candidates
for jobs, apprenticeships or traineeships through YfEj
are eligible for financial support to cover some of the
costs of an integration programme for the newly hired
young worker, apprentice or trainee. In the case of
international recruitment, adequate post-placement
integration support can help the candidate adjust to
the new work placement.
Integration programme requirements
The implementation of an integration programme by
SMEs is optional but does not prevent SMEs from
benefiting from YfEj support and recruitment services.
The employer is free to decide whether to apply for YfEj
financial support depending on the recruitment needs.
An integration programme entails the provision of
induction training, possibly combined with other post-
placement support, provided by the employer for the
new young mobile worker/trainee/apprentice, with the
aim of easing the integration into the job and cutting
obstacles to labour mobility.
The programme is usually limited to the first few
weeks on the job, and may consist of job-related
training and/or a language course. Both may be pro-
vided externally or within the company/organisation.
Please note that in the case of trainees or appren-
tices, the conditionality rule to obtain support is that
there should be no overlap between the integration
programme and the planned traineeship or appren-
ticeship programme. The applicant SME has to make
a motivated request.
As much as possible, the learning components of the
integration programme should be complemented with
administrative support and resettlement assistance
for the new recruit. This is especially relevant for
trainees and apprentices.
Although it is up to the employer to determine the
extent and content of the integration programme, it
must always include at least a training or learning
component. The level can vary from basic (involv-
ing just one learning component) to comprehensive
(combining a training module with administrative
support and settlement facilitation), recommended
for all recruited workers, trainees and apprentices
in particular.
Recommended length
of the integration programme
The integration programme can take place in con-
secutive or separate periods, provided it begins during
the first three weeks of a job, traineeship or intern-
ship. Although there are no specific duration require-
ments, the training plan should be realistic to achieve
the expected results.
How to obtain nancial support
To be eligible for funding, the employer (SME) must
justify the request and give the specifics of the inte-
gration programme. All this can be clarified when the
employer submits a vacancy offer or has pre-selected
the mobile candidate. Training needs should be identi-
fied no later than the interview phase.
The SME must submit an application form detail-
ing the proposed integration programme before the
young candidate starts at the company. All requests
need to be checked and validated by the relevant
YfEj employment service. These provide all neces-
sary information and application forms.
Please refer to the following table for a breakdown
of flat-rate amounts applicable per Member State,
based on the nature of the training provision and the
number of recruited workers.
YOUR FIRST EURES JOB 201415 GUIDE
17
FLAT RATES APPLIED TO SME INTEGRATION PROGRAMMES FOR YOUNG RECRUITED CANDIDATES (**)
Basic induction training
(EUR)
Comprehensive
induction training (EUR)
Recruiting
country
I II III IV Rule of allocation
Reporting
obligations
1 5
candidates
> 5
candidates
1 5
candidates
> 5
candidates
Conditional:
need to apply
for funding and
provide a training
checklist
Copy of training
plan + declaration/
lists signed by
the training
participant(s) or
signed copy of
training registration
form or detailed
training plan signed
by coach/trainer or
training provider
or other equivalent
document
Austria 810 650 970 810
Belgium 770 620 920 770
Bulgaria 500 400 600 500
Croatia 530 420 640 530
Cyprus 660 530 790 660
Czech Republic 590 470 710 590
Denmark 1 000 800 1 200 1 000
Estonia 590 470 710 590
Finland 860 690 1 030 860
France 830 660 990 830
Germany 740 590 890 740
Greece 720 570 860 720
Hungary 520 420 620 520
Ireland 800 640 960 800
Italy 780 620 940 780
Latvia 530 420 640 530
Lithuania 530 420 640 530
Luxembourg 770 620 920 770
Malta 650 520 780 650
Netherlands 750 600 900 750
Poland 520 420 620 520
Portugal 650 520 780 650
Romania 500 400 600 500
Slovakia 580 460 700 580
Slovenia 650 520 780 650
Spain 700 560 840 700
Sweden 860 690 1 030 860
United Kingdom 830 660 1 000 830
(**) Rates per young recruited person
YOUR FIRST EURES JOB
18
Overview of funding rules
As mentioned above, young people and SMEs may
receive financial support to cover the expenses listed in
the following table. Any other costs incurred by candidates
and/or employers will not be covered by the YfEj scheme.
YOUNG PEOPLE
Contribution to the travel and subsistence costs related to:
Selection interview
Moving to another Member State to take up duty
Contribution to the costs incurred for:
Language course
Recognition of qualifications
Mobility of young people with special needs (supplementary relocation allowance)
SMEs
Contribution to the costs of an integration programme for recruited candidates
organised and provided by SMEs.
Other support measures
Additional language or mentoring support can be an
added incentive to attract applicants for jobs, trainees
and apprentices. Methods used may vary as long
as the learning or support objectives are achieved.
Please see below for more information on these addi-
tional support measures.
Preparatory training
(language training or other)
As already mentioned on page 15, young mobile job-
seekers are entitled to reimbursement for language
courses paid for out of their own pocket.
In some cases, the relevant YfEj employment ser-
vices may also be called on to provide or facilitate
access to language or other types of training
aimed at enhancing the candidates general com-
petences and adaptability to the future job, trainee-
ship or internship assignment. This type of training
is offered free of charge to the pre-selected or
recruited young person.
The preparatory training is a short-term work place-
ment support measure. Advanced vocational training
or training within the context of mandatory profes-
sional certification requirements are not financed
under YfEj.
YOUR FIRST EURES JOB 201415 GUIDE
19
Mentoring support
for recruited trainees
and apprentices
Besides the in-company vocational mentoring offered
by employers (see more information on page 16), YfEj
employment services may also provide mentoring to
trainees and apprentices only. This support measure
is however optional.
These services may be offered for a maximum period
of up to six weeks, beginning as soon as possible after
the candidates arrival in the country of destination. The
actual number of mentoring sessions may vary accord-
ing to individual needs and the specific circumstances.
The goal is to provide socio-pedagogical support and
guidance outside the work placement to trainees and
apprentices in need of a more structured environment
to succeed in their new positions (e.g. help with legal,
institutional, family or other issues related to settling
in a new country).
For more details on preparatory training or men-
toring support by YfEj, please consult the relevant
YfEj employment services.
It is said that Italy is the capital of design. In fact, the style in Poland is very different from
the Italian one. In my profession, it is important to be on top of fashion. I think it could be very
interesting to create, to mix Polish-Italian style. Its all about learning new things, experimenting
new experiences.
Edyta aszkiewicz, Polish graphic designer working in Italy.
YOUR FIRST EURES JOB
20
Paying participants
Payments to participants should be timely and made
with as little paperwork as possible.
Young candidates or recruited workers, trainees or
apprentices should preferably be paid before attend-
ing a job interview in their home country or abroad,
and before moving abroad to take up duty. This is
possible only if the conditions for claiming fund-
ing are met and approved by the relevant YfEj
employment services.
Payment should be made on receipt of the written
confirmation of the interview by the employer with
all the necessary information or, in the case of work
placement, a signed letter of commitment confirming
the offer of a job/apprenticeship/traineeship or labour
contract from the employer.
The employer may send the documents directly to
the job candidate or via the YfEj employment ser-
vice. In all cases, the YfEj employment services
must validate the legality and fairness of the
submitted documents. Upon validation, the young
candidates or recruited workers, trainees or appren-
tices have to sign a written declaration specifying
the purpose of the YfEj financing and confirming
receipt of payment.
Costs incurred by young candidates for language
training are paid after completion of the course.
Similarly, costs incurred for recognition of qualifica-
tions are paid after the young person has completed
the required procedures and has obtained official
recognition, following a prior written request and
approval by the YfEj employment service.
The supplementary relocation allowance for young
people with special needs is allocated either before
or after the relocation has taken place, on the basis
of a request which must be accompanied by sup-
porting evidence, notably on the candidates vulner-
able situation.
Further details on payment procedures can be
obtained from the YfEj employment services.
YOUR FIRST EURES JOB 201415 GUIDE
21
Glossary
Allowance fixed amount of money.
Apprenticeship temporary work-based training position in a company or other organisation (see also:
Traineeship).
Competences proven ability to use knowledge, skills and personal, social and/or methodological resources,
in work or study situations and in professional and personal development.
Country of residence the country where the prospective young worker resides (i.e. the place indicated on
the ID card or equivalent legal document) at the time of applying for a job in another Member State.
Eligible costs costs directly linked to carrying out the project.
EEA European Economic Area, established on 1 January 1994 through an agreement between the
Member States of the European Free Trade Association and the European Union. It allows Iceland, Liechtenstein
and Norway to participate in the EU internal market, i.e. to benefit from the right of free movement for goods,
persons, services and capital among participating countries.
EU European Union.
EURES a cooperation network between the European Commission and the Public Employment Services
of the EEA set up in 1993. It provides information, advice, guidance, job matching and job services for the
benefit of workers and employers, as well as any citizen seeking to benefit from the right of free movement
of workers in the EEA.
Flat-rate financing funding covering specific categories of expenditure either by applying a standard
lump sum or scale of unit cost.
FTE Full-time equivalent.
Integration programme package consisting of at least basic induction training provided by the employer
to a new young mobile worker, to help with his or her integration into the workplace. The package can include
other support services.
Job work undertaken under the direction of someone and for which one is paid.
Jobseeker someone who is looking for a job.
Job candidate someone applying for one or more job vacancies.
Job changer someone who is employed but plans to switch to another job.
Job placement the process of filling a job vacancy, i.e. a de facto transition into employment
of a registered jobseeker or job changer.
Job matching identification of suitable candidates for a specific job vacancy.
YOUR FIRST EURES JOB
22
Recruitment process by which the employer hires a candidate and is therefore able to fill a vacancy.
Skills ability to apply knowledge and use know-how to complete tasks and solve problems.
SME small and medium-sized enterprise with up to 250 employees.
Subsistence costs costs related to accommodation, meals, local travel, telecommunications
and other sundries.
Target groups for the purpose of this guide this refers to young people and employers (with relevance for SMEs).
Traineeship limited period of work practice spent at a business, public body or non-profit institution by
students or young people who have recently completed their education, in order to gain valuable hands-on
work experience before taking up regular employment (see also: Apprenticeship).
Transnational labour mobility possibility of moving from one Member State to another for a
job opportunity.
Travel costs refer to one-way or return travel from the country of residence to the country of destination.
Work-based training refers to gaining in-company professional experience as a trainee or apprentice.
YfEj Your first EURES job.
YfEj employment service the labour market organisation with which the European Commission has
entered a grant agreement to implement YfEj activities.
Young mobile jobseeker young European person seeking a job in another Member State.
Young mobile worker young person already working or who has been recruited to work in another
EU Member State.
YOUR FIRST EURES JOB 201415 GUIDE
23
Find out more and follow us
EURES European Job Mobility portal: http://eures.europa.eu
Europe Direct citizens information service: http://europa.eu/europedirect/
SOLVIT problem-solving network: http://ec.europa.eu/solvit/
Your Europe advice portal for citizens and business: http://europa.eu/youreurope/advice/
EURAXESS information and support for researchers: http://ec.europa.eu/euraxess/
Euroguidance network of career guidance systems throughout Europe: http://euroguidance.eu
Contact points for the recognition of professional qualifications:
http://ec.europa.eu/internal_market/qualifications/index_en.htm
NARIC gateway to recognition of academic and professional qualifications: http://enic-naric.net/
Europass: http://europass.cedefop.europa.eu
European Youth portal: http://europa.eu/youth/EU_en
Enterprise Europe Network business support for SMEs: http://een.ec.europa.eu
ERASMUS for young entrepreneurs: http://www.erasmus-entrepreneurs.eu/index.php?lan=en
PLOTEUS (Portal on Learning Opportunities throughout the European Space):
http://ec.europa.eu/ploteus/home_en.htm
Advice on traineeship and apprenticeship schemes: http://ec.europa.eu/social/main.jsp?catId=1045
Stay connected
@EU_Social
https://www.facebook.com/socialeurope
http://www.flickr.com/photos/socialeurope/
http://www.youtube.com/user/europesocial/
Subscribe to our newsletter
http://ec.europa.eu/social/main.jsp?catId=371&langId=en
Receive news via our RSS Feed
feed://ec.europa.eu/social/rss.jsp?langId=en
HOW TO OBTAIN EU PUBLICATIONS
Free publications:
one copy:
via EU Bookshop (http://bookshop.europa.eu);
more than one copy or posters/maps:
from the European Unions representations (http://ec.europa.eu/represent_en.htm);
from the delegations in non-EU countries (http://eeas.europa.eu/delegations/index_en.htm);
by contacting the Europe Direct service (http://europa.eu/europedirect/index_en.htm) or
calling 00 800 6 7 8 9 10 11 (freephone number from anywhere in the EU) (*).
(*) The information given is free, as are most calls (though some operators, phone boxes or hotels may charge you).
Priced publications:
via EU Bookshop (http://bookshop.europa.eu).
Priced subscriptions:
via one of the sales agents of the Public ations Office of the European Union
(http://publications.europa.eu/others/agents/index_en.htm).
Your first EURES job
Making it easier to move and work / to recruit young people in Europe
201415 Guide
Your first EURES job is an EU-funded initiative to
help young Europeans find a job, internship or traineeship in another EU country
help SMEs and other employers access a wider talent pool
A practical guide covering
eligibility requirements and how to apply
how to get financial support
where to find further information
Start looking for Your first EURES job today!
This publication is available in electronic format in all EU official languages.
You can download our publications or subscribe for free at
http://ec.europa.eu/social/publications
If you would like to receive regular updates about the Directorate-General for Employment,
Social Affairs and Inclusion, sign up to receive the free Social Europe e-newsletter at
http://ec.europa.eu/social/e-newsletter
https://www.facebook.com/socialeurope
https://twitter.com/EU_Social
K
E
-
0
1
-
1
3
-
8
8
2
-
E
N
-
N